The Fed camera - history

Fed cameras were made in the old Soviet Union and were some of the earliest copies of the original Leica Camera. Named after the founder of the Soviet Secret Police, Felix Edmundovich Dzerzhinsky, the Fed I appeared in 1934 and was a copy of the Leica II 35mm rangefinder film camera, fitted with a FED f/3.5, 50mm uncoated lens.

The Fed II was launched in 1955 and featured a removeable back and coupled range/viewfinder. Initially it was fitted with a Fed lens, but after 1957, the Industar-26M and Industar-61 lenses were used.

The Fed 3 appeared in 1962 and had a shorter rangefinder base than earlier models. From 1964, the camera was given a lever type film advance and shutter arming lever. The Fed 4, also launched in 1964, had a built-in light measuring exposure meter. The Fed 5 with redesigned and engraved top-plate controls was the last model to be marketed in the West.

Thousands of Feds were produced, all fitted with the Leica L39 screw type lens mount and most of the Industar type lenses can be mounted on screw thread Leica cameras and older Leitz lenses such as the Elmar f/3.5, 5cm can be mounted on Fed cameras.

These Soviet era cameras are heavily built and robust; many are still in use today and can be found for sale on Internet auction sites at modest prices, often complete with original instructions, boxes and leather camera cases. Fed cameras were often sold in Europe and the U.S.A. under different brand names such as Foto-Quelle Revue.